Suction nozzle and electric vacuum cleaner including the same

Abstract

A suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner including an electric blower, includes a suction inlet; an outlet; a suction passage extending along a center line joining a middle of the suction inlet in the longitudinal direction and a middle of the outlet in the longitudinal direction to connect the suction inlet and the outlet; and partition walls arranged in the suction passage to extend from the suction inlet side to the outlet side. The suction passage includes a main passage and division passages arranged on both outer sides of the main passage. The main passage and the division passages are divided in the longitudinal direction of the suction inlet by the partition walls. A width of the main passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be greater than a width of the main passage at the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction nozzle to be provided in an electric vacuum cleaner including an electric blower, the suction nozzle comprising:
 a suction inlet arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction that is predetermined, and arranged opposite to a surface to be cleaned;   an outlet to be connected to the electric blower;   a suction passage arranged to extend along a center line joining a middle of the suction inlet in the longitudinal direction and a middle of the outlet in the longitudinal direction to connect the suction inlet and the outlet; and   a plurality of partition walls each of which is arranged in the suction passage to extend from a side on which the suction inlet is defined to a side on which the outlet is defined; wherein   the suction passage includes:
 a main passage having the center line of the suction passage passing therethrough; and 
 a plurality of division passages arranged on both outer sides of the main passage with respect to the longitudinal direction with one of the plurality of partition walls being arranged between the main passage and an adjacent one of the plurality of division passages on either side of the main passage, the main passage and the plurality of division passages being divided from one another in the longitudinal direction of the suction inlet by the plurality of partition walls; and 
   a width of the main passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be greater than a width of the main passage at the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein each partition wall includes, at an upstream end thereof, an upstream vertical portion arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 2 , wherein each partition wall further includes a first curved portion defined continuously with a downstream side of the upstream vertical portion, and arranged to curve so as to be convex away from the center line. 
     
     
         4 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 3 , wherein each partition wall further includes a second curved portion defined continuously with a downstream side of the first curved portion, and arranged to curve so as to be convex toward the center line. 
     
     
         5 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 4 , wherein each partition wall further includes, at a downstream end thereof, a downstream vertical portion defined continuously with the second curved portion, and arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein each partition wall includes, at a downstream end thereof, a downstream vertical portion arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein each partition wall is in a shape of a plate, and is arranged to extend in a straight line from the side on which the suction inlet is defined to the side on which the outlet is defined. 
     
     
         8 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a width of the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be smaller than a width of the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction; and   downstream ends of the partition walls are arranged within a range of the width of the outlet measured in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         9 . The suction nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the main passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction is arranged to be greater than a width of each division passage at the suction inlet measured in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         10 . An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:
 the suction nozzle of  claim 1 ;   a dust collection portion arranged downstream of the suction nozzle; and   the electric blower arranged downstream of the dust collection portion.   
     
     
         11 . The electric vacuum cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the suction passage is arranged to extend upward from the suction inlet, and is connected to an upper portion of the dust collection portion, and an upper side of a portion of the dust collection portion is covered with the suction nozzle.